Between Two Thorns by Emma Newman

“Emma Newman is an extraordinary new voice in SF/F.”Paul Cornell, Hugo Award winner, and author of London Falling and Saucer Country

“Emma Newman has built a modern fantasy world with such élan and authority
her ideas of why and how the seemingly irrational world of Fairy works
should be stolen by every other writer in the field. Her characters are
complex and troubled, courageous at times and foolhardy.
This book of wonders is first rate.”Bill Willingham, Eisner Award winner, and creator of Fables

Something is wrong in Aquae Sulis, Bath’s secret mirror city.

The new season is starting and the Master of Ceremonies is missing. Max, an Arbiter of the Split Worlds Treaty, is assigned with the task of finding him with no one to help but a dislocated soul and a mad sorcerer.

There is a witness but his memories have been bound by magical chains only the enemy can break. A rebellious woman trying to escape her family may prove to be the ally Max needs.

But can she be trusted? And why does she want to give up eternal youth and the life of privilege she’s been born into?

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Praise and Reviews:

“JK Rowling meets Georgette Heyer…Newman renders the Split Worlds with verve and an infectious sense of fun, and presents in Cathy a strong and personable heroine.”
– Eric Brown, The Guardian

“The plot is pure candy. I went right out and got the second book.”- Locus Magazine

“Emma Newman has created a reflection of Bath that reminds one that charming is not safe. Between Two Thorns shows the darkness beneath the glamour of the social Season. Learning to be a young lady has never seemed so dangerous.”
– Mary Robinette Kowal, Hugo Award winner, and author of Shades of Milk and Honey and Glamour in Glass

“With a feather-light touch, Emma Newman has crafted a very English fantasy, one brilliantly realised and quite delightful, weaving magic, mystery and parallel worlds together with ease. Newman may well be one of our brightest stars, The Split Worlds: Between Two Thorns is just the beginning of a remarkable journey.”
– Adam Christopher, author of Empire State and Seven Wonders

“Between Two Thorns is magical, exciting, and clever. It manages to conjure a world that feels completely natural but also mysterious, sometimes dangerous, sometimes funny, combining several different kinds of urban fantasy into one story, and capturing a lovely sense of modern Britishness that is reminiscent of other fantastic British fantasy. I’m eagerly awaiting the sequel!”
– Fantasy Faction

“An enchanting novel from Emma Newman, an urban fantasy that has no sign of tattooed women in leather pants. A headstrong scion and an investigator discover dark doings in the outwardly genteel world of Bath’s secret mirror city.”
– Paul Weimer, SF Signal

“Between Two Thorns really was an unalloyed pleasure to read and it’s hard to write a review for it that isn’t just gushing … Newman has created a unique blend of urban, historical, and crime fantasy clothed in a Regency veneer. Between Two Thorns is delicious, engrossing, and enchanting and, so far, my debut of the year.”
– Mieneke van der Salm, A Fantastical Librarian

“a modern fantasy that playfully mixes magic and interesting characters into an intriguing mystery.”
– John DeNardo, Kirkus Reviews

“Treading similar thematic ground to the likes of Clive Barker’s Weaveworld and Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere, Emma Newman’s first Split Worlds novel still manages to be a wonderfully iconoclastic affair. I feel like I’ve only been given a tantalising glimpse through a fantastical doorway.”
– Pablo Cheesecake, The Eloquent Page

“Between Two Thorns is a fascinating new take on the fairytale myth, and it keeps the elegance and old-fashioned glamour we tend to associate with the fae whilst adding a fresh modern perspective.”
– Ros Jackson, Warpcore SF

“Wow, what a book! I can’t remember when was the last time I enjoyed reading something so much … a stunningly original take on the Faerie myth and worthy beginning of one of the most exciting fantasy series on the market today.”
– Kris at Upcoming4me

“Missing people, kidnap, three wishes, charms, deception and Grand Tours collide in a story that’s part fairytale, part fantasy, part Jane Austen, with a sprinkling of bonkers brilliance.”
– Sarah Watkins, And Then I Read a Book

“As with all first of series there are slow moments and a lot of details that need to be absorbed but I felt that Newman did a very good job of introducing and creating a world of dangerous politics, magic and a resentment for those of us that were born on the wrong side of the barrier.”
– Beth Syler, Sky Rose Reviews

“This novel draws you in from the very first, tempting you with magical creatures set against present day Bath. I tried only reading one chapter just to test the writing style, etc but found myself, a few hours later, having read a vast amount of the book … It sits beautifully within my favourite type of fantasy novel, fairy tale within the present day.”
– Sarah Bruch for SF Crowsnest

“The world-building in this novel was very strong and was what transformed this novel into something distinctive.”
– Christal at Badass Book Reviews

“Between Two Thorns had good prose, great characters, and was a well done mystery. I recommend it to anyone who loves faeries, high society related books, and/or a good mystery.”
– Momo the Mome Rath at Where the Mome Raths Outgrabe

“a solid start to a great new fantasy trilogy that will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys urban fantasy, stories about the Fae and detective stories.”
– Elloise Hopkins

“The sensory language was fantastic – especially when we were in the Nether or in Exilium. That’s where Newman really shines the most – showing us entirely new worlds that are only connected by a thin string, and that are absolutely gorgeous to behold.”
– Usagi at Birth of a New Witch

“I enjoyed every minute of these split worlds. The fairy-tale mythology, fantasy, sci-fi-mystery, police procedural, romance and all the other genre-bending elements worked together seamlessly.”
– Merikay Noah, Popcorn Reads

“Good fantasy is the ability to not only tell a good story set in a different world – but to create that world with beautiful worlds. Evoke it in the reader’s mind. Where it comes alive and leave the impression as if one visited there. Newman definitely has a gift for that.”
– Deniz Yildiz, Closet Geeks and Slow Mo

“What I want from an alternate, magical reality is a mix of the expected and the surprising, and Between Two Thorns does a good job of delivering that, primarily through the use of some off-beat points of view and the addition of some unique flourishes.”
– Steven M. Long

“Between Two Thorns is a book that is packed with a ton of things to entice the reader … I can definitely recommend this to readers of urban fantasy if you are looking for something different”
– Shadowhawk, Founding Fields

“This was a well-crafted fantasy novel which makes a great start to a new series … I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
– Rebecca at Book Chick City

“Between Two Thorns is an excellent read and I highly recommend it to fantasy fans looking for something a bit different, particularly in the form of merging modern day settings with fantasy worlds.”
– Tsana Dolichva, Tsana’s Reads

“gimme the next book! This one wraps up most, but not all, of the mysterious web that Newman weaves – just enough threads are left dangling to keep me intrigued, so I’ll definitely be buying the second book to find out where those threads lead.”
Lisa, Over the Effing Rainbow

“This is a book that contains MANY THINGS. This can be tricky sometimes … [but] Newman managed to corral the different worlds, characters and machinations to deliver an engaging read that left me wanting more.”
– Kathy at Kindle-aholic’s Book Pile

“If you like a bit of fairy magic, the juxtaposition between ancient and modern, here and there, and you don’t mind being left in suspense for a good few months, you’ll really enjoy it. 9 stars out of 10.”
– Fantasy Faction

“A wonderful marriage of the magical and the mundane, with plenty of high society intrigue to satisfy any Downton Abbey fan and more than enough to appeal to fantasy lovers as well. Emma Newman’s world building is sublime, her characters larger than life, and the pages crackle with magic.”
– My Bookish Ways

For The Split Worlds Series:

“You know that feeling you get, after you have read something so incredible and feel empty once it is over? That is how I feel with The Split Worlds. I feel that no review I could write would justify the amazing-ness of this series. The series is humorous, political, aggravating, and heartbreaking. All in one. There is violence, fantasy, romance, some smut, corruption, mystery…every genre all rolled into one plot line.” – The Bibliophile’s Apprentice

“The Split Worlds Trilogy marks the author as someone to watch for her future endeavors, be they within the Split Worlds or elsewhere.” – Skiffy and Fanty